Electric valve converting system



March 19, 1940. MITTAG 2,193,932

ELECTRIC ALVE CONVERTING SYSTEM- Fileq Feb. 17, 19:58 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ifivefitor": AibeTC H. Mittag,

His AttoT-fiey.

March 19, 1940. A; MITTA 2,193,932

ELECTRIC VALVE CONVERTING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 17, 1938 SSheets-SheetZ A Inventor: Albert H. Mittag,

by W J 1 His Attorney.

March 19, 1940. A., H. MlTTAG 2,193,932

ELECTRIC VALVE CONVERTING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 17, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor: Albert H. Mittag,

b jaw y His Atcorney.

Patented Mar. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Albert li'Mittag, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to General Electric Company, 8 corporation of New York Application February 17, 1938, Serial No. 191,046

9 Claims.

My invention relates to electric valve converting systems and more particularly to such systems suitable for transmitting energy between alternating current circuits of different frequencies.

Heretofore numerous electric valve converting systems have been utilized for the transfer of energy between alternating current circuits of different frequencies and numerous arrangements have been proposed for controlling electric valve converting systems in accordance with the voltage and current conditions of the output circuit. Such arrangements, however, in many instances have involved complicated auxiliary apparatus and obviously it is desirable to obtain a system in which such control could be obtained with a minimum amount of auxiliary apparatus. Where such electric valve converting systems have been utilized to control the speed of a motor or dynamo-electric machine it is desirable to obtain a relatively flat load speed characteristic and this may be obtained by controlling the converter in accordance with the voltage and current conditions of the motor. In accordance with my invention I compensate for the field distortion of the machine as the load increases by advancing the moments of ignition oi the valves of the converter thereby obtaining a relatively flat speed torque characteristic of the motor.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide an improved electric valve converting system utilizing a minimum of auxiliary apparatus.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide an improved electric valve converting system for transferring energy between alternating current circuits of different frequencies in which the apparatus is controlled in accordance with the voltage and current conditions of the output circuit.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide an improved electric valve converting system for transferring energy between an alternating current circuit and a dynamo-electric machine in which the moments of ignition of the electric valves are advanced in accordance with increasing load upon the motor or dynamo-electric machine.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 represents one embodiment of my invention wherein an electric valve converting system supplies energy to an alternating current machine of'the synchronous type; Figs. 2 and 3 are explanatory of the operation of my invention; Fig. 4 is a further modification of my invention in which an electric valve converting system supplies energy to an alternating current machine of the synchronous type; and Fig. 5 shows how my invention may be utilized in connection with an electric valve converting system for transmitting energy between two different alternating current circuits.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated an arrangement embodying my invention for transferring energy between a polyphase alternating current circuit l0 and a synchronous alternating current motor A dynamo-electric machine or motor I I has been shown as comprising a plurality of phase windings l2, I3 and I4 and a rotatable field winding IS. The rotatable field winding l5 may be sup.- plied by any suitable source of direct current or may be energized from a rectifier apparatus comprising a pair of valves l6 and H and an inductive winding I8. This winding I8 is energized from one phase of the alternating current circuit Ill. The electric valve converting apparatus utilizes six groups of three tubes each, I9, 20, 2|; 22, 23, 24; 25, 26, 21,; 28, 29, 30; 3|, 32, 33; and 34, 35, 3B.- The cathodes of the valves I9, 22 and 25 and the anodes of the valves 28, 3| and 34 are connected through an inductive winding 31 to one of the conductors of the alternating current circuit Hi. The cathodes of the valves 20, 23 and 25 and the anodes of the valves 29, 32 and 35 are connected through another inductive winding 38 to one of the other conductors of the polyphase alternating current circuit l0, and similarly the cathodes of the valves 2|, 24 and 21 and the anodes of the valves 30, 33 and 36 are connected through an inductive winding 39 to the remaining conductor of the polyphase' alternating current circuit In. The anodes of the group of valves I9, 20, 2| and the cathodes of the group of valves 28, 29, 30 are connected to the phase winding ll of the motor The anodes of the group of valves 22, 23, 24

' and the cathodes of the group of valves 3|, 32, 33 are connected to the phase winding |3 of the electric motor and the anodes of the group of valves 25, 26, 21 and the cathodes of the group of valves 34, 35, 35 are connected to the phase winding l2 of the electric motor.

In order to control the conductivities of the several electric valves that supply current successively to the several phase windings of the synchronous machine l, the control electrodes or grids of the several groups of electric valves are adapted to be selectively excited by means of a distributor 40 which is mounted on the shaft of the machine II and six auxiliary electric valves one of which is shown as valve ii. The distributor 40 is provided with six brushes each of which is connected to a valve similar to valve 45 The valve 4| and each valve similar thereto controls three control transformers for a group of valves such as valves 59, 2c, 2|. Alternating current obtained from the source it is transmitted through a suitable phase shifting device such as 42 to a transformer having primary winding 43 and secondary winding 44. Three of the phase windings of the secondary winding 44 are connected to the control transformers 45, 46, 41, respectively and these transformers are connected through unilaterally conductive devices or contact rectifiers 48, 49, 50, respectively, to the anode of the auxiliary valve 4|, the cathode of which is connected to one of the brushes of the distributor 40, the distributor segment of which in turn is connected to the neutral point of the phase windings of the secondary winding group 44. Each of the control circuits for the valves may include a suitable source of biasing potential (not shown) and a current limiting resistor. The auxiliary valve 4| is provided with a control circuit which is responsive to the voltage and current condition of the phase winding of the synchronous machine I. The transformer 5| is provided with primary windings which are connected so as to be energized in accordance with the voltage appearing across the terminals of the phase windings |2, l3, l4 of the synchronous machine The secondary windings of the transformer 5| are six in number corresponding to the number of auxiliary valves similar to valve 4|. Two current transformers 52 and 53 are connected to the conductor supplying energy to the phase winding M of the motor and current transformers 54, 55 and 56, 51 respectively are connected to the conductor supplying energy to the phase windings l3 and I2 of the machine One of these current transformer windings 52 is connected in series with one of the secondary windings of the transformer 5| in the control circuit for the electric valve 4| which includes the resistors 58 and 59. The electric valve 4| is therefore rendered conductive in accordance with the voltage and current conditions appearing across the phase windings of the synchronous motor II. The distributor 40 serves to select which group of 'valves may be rendered conductive, the auxiliary valve such'as 4| determines the instant at which one of the valves of that group will be rendered conductive, and the phase relation between the alternating current circuit l0 and the voltage, supplied to the control transformers such as 45, 46 and 41 will determinewhich one of the valves of the group will be rendered conductive. For purposes. of simplicity in disclosure the control circuits for these various valves have been shown as applied to only one group of valves comprising the valves I8, 20, 2|. It therefore will be apparent to those skilled in the art that six circuits similar to those shown in the drawings are necessary-in order to provide a complete control circuit for all of the electric valves. A switch 50 is provided for each of the valves similar to valve 4| which is closed momentarily in order to start the motor and as soon as the motor begins to move the switch and corresponding switches are simultaneously opened and be a reduction in speed of the motor the apparatus then begins to function in a manner which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In explaining the operation of the above-described apparatus, it will be assumed that initially the rotary phase shifting device 42 is so adjusted that the alternating potential impressed upon the several grid controlled circuits is retarded substantially with respect to. the potential of the alternating current circuit l0 and that the rotatable fleld winding I5 and the distributor 40 are in approximately the positions illustrated. It further will be assumed that just prior to the positions illustrated current was conducted from the line II) by the group of valves 3|, 32, 33 through phase winding I3, phase winding l2 and through the group of valves 25, 26, 21 to the other side of the alternating current circuit It. In the position shown in the drawings current is now being conducted by the group of valves 3|, 32, 33 through phase winding 3, phase winding l4 and the group of valves I9, 20, 2|. As the field winding I5 progresses still further current will be conducted by the group of valves 34, 35, 36 through phase winding I2, phase winding I4 and through the group of valves I9, 20, 2|. Upon further advance of the field winding the conductivity will be as follows: From a group of valves 34, 35, 36 through phase winding l2, phase winding 3 and group of valves 22, 23, 24. From the group of valves 28, 29, 30 through phase winding M, phase winding l3 and the group of valves 22, 23, 24. This will be followed by conduction of current by the group of valves 28, 29, 30 through phase winding M, phase winding l2 and the group of valves 25, 25, 21. Thereafter the cycle of operation just described will be repeated.

If the valve 4| were not interposed between the distributor 40 and the various control transformers such as 45, 45 and 41, the main valves H! to 36, inclusive, would fire at the instant B shown in the curve in Fig. 2 under light load conditions, and during heavy load conditions the instants of conductivity would move to the position C. This would result in a reduced available commutating voltage shown at D and furthermore there would The introduction of the auxiliary valve such as 4| causes the motor to operate at the point B at light load and to advance the moment of ignition to point A at heavy load. This advancement of the point of ignition to point A as shown in Fig. 2 will provide a relatively flat speed torque characteristic. This advancement of the moment of ignition of the main valves 3 to 35 from point B to point A under different load conditions is accomplished by the introduction of the control impulse obtained from-the current transformer 52 in the control circuit of the auxiliary valve 4|. Fig. 3 shows the relation of the various voltages supplied to the control circuit of the auxiliary valve 4|. Thus the voltage Em represents the voltage obtained from one of the secondary windings of the .transformer 5| and the voltage E1 represents the voltage component derived -from the current transformer such as 52. Thus the resultant control such as 4| connected in series with each of the 75 various brushes of the distributor 40, of course it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a similar result could be obtained by the utilization of three auxiliary valves which would supplant the auxiliary valve ll and the contact rectiflers or unilaterally conductive devices 48, 48 and 58.

In Fig. 4 there is shown an arrangement for transmitting current from the alternating current source 6| to a series excited synchronous type dynamo-electric machine 82. A plurality of reactors 88, 84, 65 are connected between the alternating current source SI and the various electric valves 01' the converting apparatus. Six groups of three valves each are provided, 86, 61, 68; 88, III, II; '12, I3, 14; 15, I8, 11; I8, 18, 88; and 8|, 82, 83. The cathodes of the valves 68, 88, I2 and the anodes oi the valves 15, I8, BI are connected together to one of the conductors of the polyphase alternating current circuit ii. The cathodes of the valves 61, I0, I8 and the anodes of the valves I6, 18, 82 are all connected to another one of the conductors of the alternating current supply circuit. Similarly the cathodes of the valves 88, II, I8 and the anodes of the valves 11, 80, 83 are connected to the remaining conductor of the alternating current circuit St. The dynamo-electric machine or motor B2 is provided with two groups of phase windlugs 85, 85, 86 and 81, 88, 88 and a rotatable field winding 88. The anodes of the group of valves 68, 61, 88 are connected together to one terminai of the phase winding 88; the anodes of the valves 68, 16, II are connected to one terminal of the phase winding 88, while the anodes of the valves I2, 13, I4 are connected to one terminal of the phase winding 81. The cathodes or" the valves l5, l5, 1'! are connected to one terminal of the phase winding 85; the cathodes oi the valves I8, I8, 85! are connected to one, terminal of the phase winding 85 and the cathodes of the valves BI, 82, 83 are connected to one terminal of the phase winding 84. The neutral point of the phase windings 84, 85, 86 is connected to one terminal of the rotatable field winding as and the other terminal of the field winding is connected to the neutral point of the phase winding group 8'1, 885, 89. Thus it is apparent that the synchronous motor shown is of the series excited type. The fiow'of current through the various phase winding groups comprises. unidirectional current impulses so that the current flow through the rotatable field winding 88 is substantially of direct current nature.

The electric valves 66 to 83 are controlled by a control circuit which includes a distributor 8i mounted on the shaft of the machine'fit and a plurality of auxiliary electric valves such as at. Six valves similar to valve 82 are provided, one for each of the brushes of the distributor 9i, and each of these valves controls the energization of one of the six groups of main valves by means of three control transformers 83, 8E, 85 and three unilaterally conductive devices 85, 81, Each of the primary windings of the three transiormers 88, 8 '85 is connected in series with one of the phase windings 89 of the transformer iliil, the primary winding Illl of which is connected to he energized through a suitable phase shifting device 882 from the alternating current source iii. The transformer I08 may be provided with six groups of secondary windings similar to the groups 88, each group serving one or the other of the electric valves similar to the valve '92. Each of the conductors leading to the various phase windings 88, 88, 81', 85, 85, 84 of the synchronous motor 82 is provided with a current transformer I88, I08, I85, I08, I01, I08, respectively, one of which is included in the control circuit for the auxiliary valves such as valve 82. The control circuit for the valve 82 therefore includes one of the current transformers such as I08 and one of the secondary windings of the transformer I88 the primary winding of which is connected across the terminals of one of the phase groups of the synchronous'motor 62 such as the phase group, 85, 86. Thus the electric valve 82 is rendered conductive in accordance with the voltage and current conditions of the phase windings of the synchronous machine 62. The valves 66 to 83 are therefore controlled in a manner similar to the control of the valves shown and described in connection with Fig. 1, that is under light load conditions the moment of ignition of the main valve is primarily determined by the voltage component supplied by the secondary winding of the transformer I89 and as the load increases on the motor the voltage component supplied by the current transformer I88 serves to advance the angle of the moment of ignition of the valve 82 with a corresponding advance in the moments of ignition of the valve controlled by the auxiliary valve. For the purpose of starting the converting apparatus a suitable switch such as switch 92a is provided for each of the auxiliary valves corresponding to valve 82 and this is closed only during the starting operation after which it is opened.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 5 is suitable for transferring alternating current from a source of alternating current HG to an alternating current load circuit ill which may be of a different frequency or the same frequency having a different phase relation relative to the potential appearing across the polyphase circuit Illl. This apparatus comprises six groups of three tubes each, iii, IE3, M4; |I5,.II6, in; H8, Us, In; I24, 522, lid; I25, I25, I26; and I21, I28, I28. The cathodes of the valves H2, H5 and IE8 are connected to one terminal of the inductor ass and the anodes of the valves I2l, I26 and I2! are connected to the other terminal of the inductor ltd the midpoint of which is connected to one of the conductors of the polyphase alternating current circuit IIII. Similarly the oathodes of the valves H3, H6 and H8 are connected to one terminal of the inductor l3! and the anodes oi the valves I22, I25 and I28 are connected to the other terminal of this same inductor the midpoint of which is connected to one of the conductors of the circuit H8. The cathodes of the valves lid, Ill! and lid are connected to one terminal of the inductor @112 while the anodes oi the valves i28, I28 and I28 are connected to the other terminal of this inductor the midpoint of which is connected to one of the other conductors of the supply circuit lit. The anodes of the group of valves H2, I I8 and lid are connected together with the cathodes of the valves iii, I22 and I23 to one or the conductors of the alternating current output or load circuit MI. Similarly the anodes of the valves H5, lift, ill and the cathodes of the valves lid, E25, I25 are connected together to one of the other conductors of the output or load circuit Ill. The

anodes oi the valves H8, H8, 520 together with the cathodes of the valves I21, 328, 29 are connected together to the remaining conductor of the output circuit ill.

The various valves of the system are controlled by a circuit which includes a suitable phase shift- '2, control a control circuit for said velves including a source of potential connected in series with a plurality of controlled auxiliary valves, and a control circuit for said latter valves including means responsive to increasing iced upon said motor to advance the moments of ignition of said latter valves.

6. In, combination, a source of alternating current, a dynamo-electric machine, a plurality of main electric valves for controlling the flow of energy from cold source to said machine, a. control circuit for said valves including o. source of potential, a plurality of auxiliary valves for controlling the application of said'potentiel to the control electrodes of said main veives, a distributor connected between said source end said auxiliary valves, and e control circuit for said auxiliary valves including means responsive to increasing load upon said machine to advance the moments of ignition of sold auxiliary valves.

'7, In combination, 9, source of current, a dense mo-electric machine, on electric valve frequency converter interconnecting serial source and machine, said converter comprisirrg e, plurelity of controlled electric valves controlling flow of energy from seirl source to said. machine, circuit for said valves including a source of in series with. e piurelifir of cu, tor coutrol ling sei tor compass, mcclaiuc prisirrg, i ignition of 3. The combination of a source of alternating current, a load circuit and an electric valve frequency converter interconnecting said load circuit and said source, said frequency converter including a plurality or controlled electrldvalves, a, control circuit for said valves comp-rising at source of periodic poteutiel, a. synchronous motor connected to sold load circuit, a, distributor mounted on the shstt of said motor, a plurality of auxiliary valves, said source of poterztial, said distributor and said auxiliary vmves all being connected in series, and means responsive to current and voltage conditions of said load cirouit for controlling said auxiliary valves.

9. The combination of s source of alternating current, a. load circuit and an electric velve fro queucy converter interconnecting said load cir cult and said source, said frequency converter including a plurality of controlled electric valves, a control circuit for said valves comprising e source of periodic potential, a synchronous mo" tor connected to said Iced circuit, a distributor mounted on the slrstt of sold motor, at plurality of auxiliary valves, seid source of potential, said distributor and said ev ziliery valves all being connected in series, as control circuit for sold auxiliary valves including e source of control potential, and means responsive to increases of the load of said load circuit for cdvcrrcing the moment at which said control roterrtiel renders sold letter valves conductive.

H. FE AG, 

